United Way volunteers John Keeley, in background, Charles Calhoun and Pat Murrell load trucks with food and other supplies as they assist in moving The Storehouse Community Food Pantry.(Jenny Sevcik The Vicksburg Post)

[10/03/03]Volunteers and professional movers loaded boxes of canned goods, instant potatoes, shelves and office supplies as The Storehouse Community Food Pantry moved into its new home Thursday.

Now, organizers say, they’re ready for more donations.

The pantry, which provides about 2,000 families each year with food in emergency situations, moved to the Southern Cultural Heritage Complex at 1302 Adams St. from the United Way building at 920 South St.

To prepare for the two-block relocation, volunteers slowly let their supply that usually includes flour, sugar, rice, powdered milk and canned meat, dwindle.

“We need food,” said pantry supervisor Camille Atwood. “We’re hoping the whole community will be generous and bring us a can a person.”

Since the pantry began serving families a year ago, it has operated out of the structure built to house The Vicksburg Post and donated by the Cashman family, who own the newspaper, to United Way when the Post moved to North Frontage Road.

Last year, the Church of the Holy Trinity purchased the building from United Way to use the space as its parish hall.

United Way will continue to use the second floor of the building at least until the year 2020.

“We have no plans to move,” said Barbara Tolliver, president of the agency.

And the church put no rush on the pantry. “They never asked us to leave at a specific time; this space just became available,” Atwood said.

The pantry’s new home is two rooms in the 1937 addition of the five-building complex, which was once the St. Francis Xavier Academy and Convent. The City of Vicksburg purchased the property in 1994.

One room will be used as a waiting and interview area for those picking up food and the other room will be used to store the food.